On February 19, 2026, the GW Heart & Vascular Institute proudly hosted its first-ever Cardiac Event Survivors’ Day — an inspiring evening dedicated to celebrating resilience, exceptional care, and the power of heart health awareness.
The event honored three remarkable survivors and their GW cardiologist — Delya Sommerville (Dr. Ramesh Mazhari), Maurice Montaldi (Dr. Jonathan Reiner), and Steven Hayes (Dr. Cynthia Tracy) — who shared their personal journeys following life-threatening cardiac events. Each spoke movingly about the life-saving care they received at GW and the clinicians who stood beside them every step of the way. In recognition of their strength and perseverance, each survivor was presented with a commemorative plaque.
Cardiac Event Survivors’ Day was envisioned by Dr. Andrew Choi and Dr. Marco Mercader as an opportunity not only to celebrate survivors, but also to recognize the extraordinary dedication of GW clinicians and raise awareness about cardiovascular health and prevention throughout the DMV region. The event brought together members from emergency department, critical care, nursing, anesthesiology, and others that work with GW cardiologists to save lives.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, responsible for more than 900,000 deaths each year. The GW Team confronts this challenge daily through innovative, compassionate care that saves lives and achieves outstanding outcomes across the DMV region.
Held during American Heart Month — a national call to prioritize heart health — the event was presented in partnership with The George Washington University Hospital, The GW Hospital Women’s Board, and The GW Medical Faculty Associates.